Numbering head



M. H. KERN NUMBERING HEAD May 8, 1934.

Filed June 9, 1933 INVENTOR ii- A 5 W EEFIEEZ ii a n Or.

Patented May 8, 1934 STATES FATE T N UMBERING HEAD York Application June9, 1933, Serial No. 674,980

5 Claims.

My invention relates to numbering heads, and more particularly to anumbering head embodying therein a digit wheel stop mechanism, whichwill prevent overrunning of any wheel due to the 5 rapid movement of themain actuating mechanism, and will also prevent possible slightdisplacement of any wheel resulting in loss of alinement following theactuating of any wheel or group of wheels.

Numbering heads of the type to which the invention relates, arefrequently used upon high speed numbering or other printing machines andthe actuating mechanism is set preparatory to the turning of any wheelor group of wheels as a result of the depression of a plunger by contactwith an impression cylinder or surface during the making of animpression. The turning of the wheels result from the expansion of aspring or springs acting upon the plunger and this movement is so rapidthat at times there is a tendency for a wheel being turned to slightlyoverrun, notwithstanding the use of a spring pressed detent pawl actingthereon. There is also a possibility in the event of the failure of thelight spring acting upon a detent pawl, and a slight lack of accuracy inthe inking mechanism, of a wheel to be moved slightly out of alinementduring inking.

Numbering heads have heretofore been devised which have been providedwith means supplementing the action of the detent pawls for preventingsuch overthrow, or accidental movement, of a wheel, but the constructionof such devices and their mode of operation has been such as to make themanual turning of wheels, when setting the heads preparatory to a run ofa numbering or other machine, extremely difiicult because of thenecessity for depressing the plunger against heavy spring tension tomake the wheel stop mechanism inoperative during the hand setting of thewheels.

A numbering head embodying the invention is to be distinguished fromthat type of numbering head in which means are provided for positivelylocking the digit wheels of the head at all times excepting during atransfer operation to prevent what is known as skipping, since the wheelstop mechanism is made inoperative as to all of the wheels with eachdepression of the plunger of the main actuating mechanism.

With the above conditions in mind, I have pro vided a numbering headembodying therein, in combination with the usual detent pawls operativeupon each wheel, actuating comb pawl and plunger operative thereonthrough a swing frame, a wheel stop mechanism embodying therein aplurality of connected and simultaneously movable pawls co-operatingrespectively with a ratchet wheel upon each of the digit wheels, whichpawls will be actuated to disengage them from the ratchet wheels carriedby the several digit wheels upon the depression of the actuating plungerand will be permitted to assume the operative position prior to thecompletion of the turning movement of any digit wheel so as topositively arrest rotary movement of any wheel when it has attained afull one-tenth revolution, necessary to secure a proper alinement of thedigits upon all of the wheels. The member carrying said pawls is sopositioned as to be readily accessible at all times and is springpressed toward the digit wheels to cause the engagement of the pawlscarried thereby with the ratchets carried by the digit wheels, thuspermitting the manual operation of the wheel stop pawls to facilitatethe hand setting of the digit wheels.

To secure the desired positive stop movement by means of the pawlsforming part of the wheel stop mechanism, I have found it desirable touse a ratchet wheel, each tooth of which is provided with oppositelypresented stop shoulders, one of which is adapted to co-operate with theordinary detent pawl and the other of which is adapted to co-operatewith a wheel stop pawl. This construction is permissible because whensetting the actuating comb'pawl, the pivotal movement of 7 this pawlpermits any operative pawl to ride over an abrupt tooth, and themechanical displacement of the wheel stop pawls prior to any turningmovement of the wheel, lifts them out of engagement with an abruptratchet tooth.

The invention consists primarily in a numbering head embodying therein aframe, a shaft therein, a plurality of digit wheels, each carrying aratchet wheel, idly mounted upon said shaft, a swing frame, a comb pawlpivoted upon said swing frame and spring pressed toward said digitwheels, spring pressed detent pawls, a pivotal member spring pressedtoward said digit wheels and carrying a plurality of wheel stop pawls ofheights to simultaneously engage all ratchet wheels, a'cam carried bysaid swing frame, and means carried by said member and engageable bysaid cam, whereby with movement of said swing frame in one direction,all of the stop pawls are disengaged from said ratchet wheels, and withmovement of said swing frame in the opposite direction, all of said stoppawls will automatically engage the respective ratchet wheels, and saidmember may be manually moved to disengage said stop pawls from saidratchet wheels to permit hand setting of the digit wheels: and in suchother novel features of construction and combination of parts as arehereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed outin the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a numbering head embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the wheel stop pawl shown in Figs. 1 and2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the invention applied to asmall type-high numbering head;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the wheel stop pawl shown in Figs. 4 and5.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Numbering heads of the type to which the invention relates are old andwell known in the printing art. Such heads are sometimes set in thechases with the printing forms, and at other times constitute the onlyprinting surfaces by which impressions are made. They vary in sizeaccording to the conditions of use, those num bering heads which are setin a chase with other printing surfaces being generally known astypehigh numbering heads. Heads of greater or less length may be usedaccording to the space available for the setting of these heads in aspecial numbering machine, and the construction of heads of greaterlength permits the use of digit wheels of larger diameter than intype-high heads, and permits a difierent arrangement of the actuatingmeans for the digit wheels.

In the different embodiments of the invention shown, the mode ofoperation is the same as to each, but the arrangement of parts isdifferent due to the necessity for taking advantage of the availablespace permitted by the over-all dimensions of the head. Irrespective ofthe length, width or height of the numbering heads, the generalconstruction is the same and therefore, in the several views,corresponding numbers are used to designate corresponding parts of theold and well known numbering head.

In the drawing, the main frame 10 of the machine has mountedtherein afixed shaft 11, upon which is mounted a plurality of similar digitwheels 12 each of which carries a ratchet wheel 13 having ten teeth, oneof which is recessed as indicated at 14, in the usual manner.

Mounted upon the shaft 11 is swing frame 15 having pivotally mountedthereon an actuating pawl 16 having a plurality of teeth of graduatedheights in order to effect what is known as a transfer operation whenthe position of any wheel is such as to require the actuation of thewheel or wheels of higher denomination. This comb pawl is usuallyoperative upon the wheels of lower denomination only, although this isimmaterial, and the comb pawl may be so formed to operate upon allwheels. The comb pawl is spring pressed toward the digit wheels.

The swing frame is actuated by means of a plunger 17 carried by one armof the U-frame 10. which plunger, by engagement with the impressionsurface, is depressed to impart oscillatory movement of the swing frame15 in one direction.

Acting upon the plunger are springs, not shown, which are of fairlyheavy tension since their function is to store up the energy resultingfrom the depression of the plunger until the disengagement of theplunger from the impression surface permits outward movement of saidplunger by said springs. -t is during this outward movement that thedigit wheels are turned. The depression of the plunger merely sets thecomb pawl preparatory to the next actuation of the digit wheel orwheels.

(Jo-operating with each ratchet wheel 13 is a detent pawl 18, springpressed into engagement with the ratchet wheel for the two-fold purposeof developing a braking action during the turning of the wheel andensuring a proper alinement of the digit upon adjacent digit wheels.

All of the parts heretofore referred to are 01 and well known in thenumbering head art, and have been described in detail merely to identifythe type of head embodying my invention and affording a clearunderstanding of the operation thereof, as well as the purposes of, andbenefits resulting from, the invention. V

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing upon an enlargescale, the actual height or" each numbering head being approximatelyseven-eighties of an inch or type high. In the form of the inventionshown in Figs. 1 to 3, digit wheels 12 of large diameter are shown. thusnecessitating the positioning of the swing frame 15 at one side of thedigit wheels. When smaller wheels are used as in the form of theinvention shown in Figs. 4 to 6, smaller digit wheels are used, thuspermitting the'movemen't of the swing frame below the digit wheels.These, however, are merely structural details well known in the art.

Referring more particularly to the embodiment of the invention shown inFigs. 1 to 3, I provide a member 19 pivotally mounted in the sides ofthe frame 10, this member having a plurality of pawls 20 all of the sameheight and so spaced from each other as to engage different ratchetwheels 12 respectively and to simultaneously engage such ratchet wheels.When the swing frame 15 is located as shown in Fig. 2, space for themounting of this member 19 is not available toward the side of themachine adjacent the comb pawl 16 so that it is necessary to mount itdirectly above the detent pawls 18 as shown in the drawing. Acting upona projecting arm 21 of the member 19 is a spring 22 pressing said memberand the pawl 20 carried thereby toward the digit wheels 12 in a mannerto normally engage said pawls with their co-operating ratchet wheelsrespectively. With this arrangement except during the turning of theratchet wheel, movement of all wheels in one direction is prevented bythe pawls 20 and their movement in the other direction is prevented bythe detent pawls 18. Hence, all wheels will be held against movement atall times except by the comb pawl 16. This control of the Wheelscontinues during the inking operation but all of the wheels are releasedduring and immediately following the printing operation. Theconstruction resulting in this condition will more fully appearhereinafter.

Carried by the member 19 is an arm 23 which projects into the path of acam ortappet 24 formed upon or carried by the swing frame 15. I isimmaterial whether said arm is in engagement with the cam or tappet 24when the setting of the actuating mechanism is not such as to result ina subsequent turning'of the digit wheels, since the engagement of thepawls 20 with the various ratchet wheels by the action of the spring 22will limit the movement of the member 19 by said spring. The relation ofthe arm 23 to the tappet or cam 24 must however be such that when theplunger is fully depressed, rocking movement will have been imparted tothe member 19 to an extent to disengage the various pawls carriedthereby from their co-operating ratchet wheels so as to permit the freeturning of any of the digit wheels by the comb pawl as determined by theparticular number indicated by the digits upon said wheels. The relationof said cam or tappet 24 and said arm must also be such that the springs21 will have been permitted to impart movement to the member 19sufficient to engage the various pawls 20 with their co-operatingratchet wheels prior to the completion of the turning movement of thedigit wheels by the comb pawl.

The member 19 is located adjacent the top of the frame 10, and isprovided with a recess 25 facilitating the movement of said member todisengage the wheel stop pawls 20 from their cooperating ratchet wheels.

The general construction and arrangement of parts, in the embodiment ofthe invention shown in Figs. 4 to 6, is the same as that heretoforedescribed, with the exception that the available space adjacent thedigit wheels necessitates the mounting of a member 26 at the side of themachine above the comb pawl 16, there being no space available above thedetent pawls 18. This member 26 is provided with a plurality of wheelstop pawls 27 corresponding in arrangement and function with the pawls20. The member 26 is acted upon by a torsion spring 28 impartingrotative movement to said member in a manner to engage the pawls 27 withtheir co-operating ratchet wheels.

Carried by the member 26 is an arm 29 corresponding with the arm 23, andthe swing frame 15 is provided with a cam or tappet 30 adapted byengagement with the arm 29 to impart such movement to the member 26,against the tension of the spring 28 as will disengage the pawls 27 fromtheir co-operating ratchet wheels upon movement of the swing frameresulting from the depression of the plunger 17.

In both forms of the invention there is a member carrying a plurality ofpawls of the same height adapted to cooperate with the ratchet wheelsupon the several digit wheels in a manner to prevent rotation of saidwheels in one direction, at all times except when the plunger 17 isdepressed, and to be so acted upon by a cam or tappet carried by theswing frame as to permit the movement of said member by said spring in amanner to engage said pawls with said ratchet wheels prior to thecompletion of the turning movement of any wheel by the comb pawl 16.

In each embodiment of the invention. the wheel stop pawls are springpressed into engagement with the various ratchet wheels until movementof the swing frame overcomes the tension of the spring operative uponsaid pawls and moves them out of engagement with said ratchet wheels.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, thedisengagement of the wheel stop pawls with their cooperating ratchetwheels. results from a lifting movement'of the pawls either by a cam ortappet or by hand causing movement of the portion of the member 19carrying the pawls 20 away from the digit wheels. In the embodiment ofthe invention shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the disengagement of said pawlsresults from a horizontal rocking movement of the member 26.

If, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the ordinaryform of ratchet tooth were employed, the bevel of the tooth would have alifting action upon the wheel stop pawls with the turning of any digitwheel. To obviate this instead of using the old type of ratchet tooth, Iemploy a ratchet tooth having two abrupt rises or shoulders presentedtoward each other, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2, one of which isadapted to be engaged by the comb pawl 16, and the other of which isadapted to engage a wheel stop pawl. This presents no difficulties,because with the movement of the swing frame 15, in setting the combpawl prior to the actuation of the digit wheels, the pivotal mounting ofthis pawl will permit it to turn freely so as to ride over the abruptrise or shoulder adapted to engage the wheel stop pawl.

The physical disengagement of the wheel stop pawl from its co-operatingratchet wheel avoids interference with the free movement of the wheeldue to the presence of the abrupt rise or shoulder.

The abrupt rise or shoulder with which the comb pawl is adapted toco-operate is indicated in Fig. 2 at 31, while the abrupt rise orshoulder with which the wheel stop pawl is adapted to co-operate isindicated at 32.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 4 to 6 the wheel stoppawls are directed substantially radially of the ratchet wheels withwhich they co-operate, and are of a length which prevents their passingthrough an are which will permit their movement by the teeth of theratchet wheels to an extent to allow the wheels to pass under the pawl.In fact, the incline of the ratchet tooth will develop a wedging actionwhich tends to more firmly seat the pawl upon the ratchet. Furthermore,movement of the pawl, sufficient to permit the ratchet teeth to passthereunder, is prevented by the co-operating arm 29 and cam or tappet30.

The variation in structure between the embodiments of the inventionshown in Figs. 1 to 3 and 4 to 6 respectively is due entirely to thechange in the location of the wheel stop pawls in relation to the combpawl.

The operation of the herein described number ing head is substantiallyas follows:

In the normal operation of a numbering head embodying the invention,during the making of an impression the plunger 1'? is depressed. Withdownward movement of the plunger, the swing frame 15 is oscillated, asindicated by the arrow, moving the comb pawl 16 carried thereby out ofengagement with one ratchet tooth, and bringing' it into the operativerelation to the adjacent tooth. During this movement of the swing frame,the cam or tappet 24 or 30, by engagement with the arm 23 or 29, impartsrocking movement to the member 19 or 26 to an extent to simultaneouslydisengage all of the wheel stop pawls 20 or 2'7 from the ratchet wheelswith which each 00- operates.

Immediately that the numbering head passes the printing line, theplunger 1'7 is moved outwardly by its springs imparting a returnreciprocatory movement to the swing frame. During the major portion ofthis return movement the cam or tappet 24 or 30 will maintain the wheelstop pawls out of engaging relation with their the direct oscillatorymovement of the members 19 or 26, to be moved by the cam into engagingposition with relation to the next tooth before the wheel has completedits full one-tenth revolution.

If, by reason of the breakage or weakness of the spring of a detent pavl, or for any other reason, there is a tendency of any wheel to overrun,the wheel stop pawls will prevent such excess movement as would cause aloss of alinement of the digits upon the various digit wheels.

The various wheel stop pawls are disengaged from their co-operatingratchet wheels during the major portion of the turning movement of adigit wheel or wheels by the comb pawl, so that if the conditions aresuch as to cause skipping, this is not prevented by the wheel stoppawls.

When the plunger is in its elevated position, all of the digit wheelsare firmly held against rotative movement in either direction either byhand or accidentally because of the oppositely acting pawls co-operatingwith the same ratchet wheel.

It is necessary to set the various digit wheels y hand to indicate adesired number, preparatory to the making of a run of a numberingmachine or printing press in which the heads are used, and the mainpurpose of the invention is to provide a wheel stop mechanism which willcontrol the wheel movements in the manner above described and yet permitthe release of the digit wheels without depressing the plunger, so thatsaid wheels may be rotated by hand to an extent desired to set up acertain number.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawing, thisactuation of the wheel stop mechanism to permit hand setting of thedigit wheels, is accomplished by merely drawing member 19 away from thedigit wheels, the

j recess being provided to afford a suitable grip upon said member. Inthe form of the invention shown in Figs. 4 to 6, this release is accomplished by merely pressing the upper edge of the member 26 toward thedigit wheel.

The lightness of the springs 21 and 28 permits the free movement of themembers 19 and 26 by hand, and the maintenance of these members in aposition to ensure a continued disengagement of the wheel stop pawlsfrom their co-operl ating ratchet wheels without any material effort,

thus greatly facilitating the hand setting of the digit wheels.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the wheel stoppawls are positioned at the same side of the axis of rotation of themember 19 as the portion of this member against which pressure isexerted to manually disengage the wheel stop pawls from theirco-operating ratchet wheels. In the form of the invention shown in Figs.4; to 6, the wheel stop pawls are located upon the opposite s des of theaxis of rotation of the member from that against which pressure isexerted to manually disengage the wheel stop pawls from theirco-operating ratchet wheels. In each form of the invention, the construction and the manner of mounting the wheel stop pawl member is suchas to afford a leverage facilitating the manual disengagment of thewheel. stop pawls against the tension of the ing acting upon said memberto normally engage said pawls with their co-operating ratchet wheels.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details ofconstruction shown in the accompanying drawing, it being apparent thatsuch may be varied without departing from'the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to haveprotected by Letters Patent, is: V

l. A numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft therein, aplurality of digit wheels, each carrying a ratchet wheel, idly mountedupon said shaft, a swing frame, a comb pawl pivoted upon said swingframe and spring pressed toward said digit wheels, spring pressed detentpawls, a pivotal member spring pressed toward said digit wheels andcarrying a plurality of wheel stop pawls of heights to simultaneouslyengage all ratchet wheels, a cam. carried by said swing frame, and meanscarried by said member and engageable by said cam, whereby with movementof said swing frame in one direction, all of the stop pawls aredisengaged from said ratchet wheels, and with movement of said swingframe in the opposite direction, all of said stop pawls willautomatically engage the respective ratchet wheels, and said member maybe manually moved to disengage said stop pawls from said ratchet wheelsto permit hand setting of the digit wheels.

2. A numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft therein, aplurality of digit wheels, each carrying a ratchet wheel, idly mountedupon said shaft, a swing frame, a comb pawl pivoted upon said swingframe and spring pressed toward said digit wheels, spring pressed detentpawls, a pivotal member spring pressed toward said digit wheels andcarrying a plurality of wheel stop pawls of heights to simultaneouslyengage all ratchet wheels, a cam carried by said swing frame, and an armcarried by said member and projecting into the path of movement of saidcam, whereby with movement of said swing frame in one direction, all ofthe stop pawls are disengaged from said ratchet wheels, and withmovement of said swing frame in the opposite direction, all of said stoppawls will automatically engage the respective ratchet wheels, and saidmember may be manually moved to disengage said stop pawls from saidratchet wheels to permit hand setting of the digit wheels.

3. A numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft therein, aplurality of digit wheels, each carrying a ratchet wheel, idly mountedupon said shaft, a swing frame, a comb pawl pivoted upon said swingframe and spring pressed toward said digit wheels, spring pressed detentpawls, a cam carried by said swing frame, a member pivotally mountedadjacent the top of frame,

having a downwardly projected arm, a plurality of wheel stop pawls ofuniform height so as to simultaneously engage all ratchet wheels, and anarm projecting into the path of movement of said cam, and a springacting upon said first named arm, said wheel stop pawls and said otherarm being positioned at the same side of the axis of rotation of saidmember, whereby with move ment of said swing frame in one direction, allof the stop pawls are disengaged from saidratchet wheels, and withmovement of said swing frame in the opposite direction, all of s stoppawls will automatically engage the respective ratchet wheels, and saidmember be manually moved away from said digit wheels to disengage saidstop pawls from said ratchet wheels to permit hand setting of the digitwheels.

4. A numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft therein, aplurality of digit wheels, each carrying a ratchet wheel, idly mountedupon said shaft, a swing frame, a comb pawl pivoted ill) upon said swingframe and spring pressed toward said digit wheels, spring pressed detentpawls, a cam carried by said swing frame, a member pivotally mountedadjacent the top of said frame, having a plurality of wheel stop pawlsof uniform height so as to simultaneously engage all said ratchetwheels, and an arm projecting into the path of movement of said cam, anda spring acting upon said member, said wheel stop pawls and said armbeing positioned at the same side of the axis of rotation of saidmember, whereby with movement of said swing frame in one direction, allof the stop pawls are disengaged from said ratchet wheels, and withmovement of said swing frame in the opposite direction, all of said stoppawls will automatically engage the respective ratchet wheels, andpressure applied to said member, upon the side of the axis of rotationopposite to that from which said pawls and said arm project, willdisengage said stop pawls from said ratchet wheels to permit handsetting of the digit wheels.

5. A numbering head embodying therein a frame, a shaft therein, aplurality of digit wheels,

each carrying a ratchet wheel, idly mounted upon said shaft, each of theteeth of each ratchet wheel having oppositely presented abrupt rises, aswing frame, a comb pawl pivoted upon said swing frame and springpressed toward said digit wheels, said comb pawl being adapted tooperatively engage one of said abrupt rises of a tooth, spring presseddetent pawls, a pivotal member spring pressed toward said digit wheelsand carrying a plurality of wheel stop pawls of heights tosimultaneously engage an oppositely presented abrupt rise of a tooth ofall ratchet wheels, a cam carried by said swing frame, and means carriedby said member and engageable by said cam, whereby with movement of saidswing frame in one direction, all of the stop pawls are disengaged fromsaid ratchet wheels, and with movement of said swing frame in theopposite direction, all of said stop pawls will automatically engage therespective ratchet wheels, and said member may be manually moved todisengage said stop pawls from said ratchet wheels to permit handsetting of the digit wheels.

MAXIMILIAN H. KERN.

